Prosthodontics, Periodontics & Orthodontics: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Implant Dentistry

Author(s):

Henry Salama, DMD

Date Added:

1/9/1995

Many aspects of various dental disciplines must be integrated to constitute a sound total approach to implant dentistry. Aside from the surgical elements - encompassing implant placement, position, angulation, and length - the creation of appropriate spaces to accommodate the three-dimensional final prostheses may require use of orthodontic techniques as well. And establishing and maintaining a sound periodontal environment is essential to implant integrity, from the outset of placement to finalization of the prosthetic suprastructure.

In order to present the clinician with a practicable approach to implant dentistry, while providing the best total service that implant dentistry has to offer, Dental Implantology Update sought input from Henry Salama, DMD, codirector of implant surgery at the Implant Research Center of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he also is assistant clinical professor of periodontics. Salama maintains a private practice limited to advanced restorative and implant dentistry in Philadelphia. He has postdoctoral certifications in both periodontics and periodontal-prosthetics.

When asked whether enough attention is being given to other disciplines within current implantrelated dental replacements, Salama states: "Implant-related therapy demands a much greater integration of the various dental disciplines than any other dental therapeutic approach to date." At first, an enhanced interrelationship between surgical and restorative dentistry was a natural and successful consequence of the early experience with osseointegrated implants in the fully edentulous population," Salama says." But as we delve further into the realm of the complex and esthetically demanding partially edentulous patient population, the measure of success is being redefined.